Two suspected drug dealers taken into custody

Two suspected Newnan drug dealers were arrested over the weekend following investigations by the Newnan Police Department Drug Task Force, authorities said.

The first suspect was arrested Friday afternoon after authorities spotted him making a suspected narcotics transaction at the Rush Foods convenience store on Dodson Street, said Sgt. Mark Cooper with the Drug Task Force. Cooper said investigators used the closed-circuit surveillance cameras mounted in the nearby intersection at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to identify the suspect, Mario Flint Walker, 27.

When investigators arrived at the convenience store, Cooper said, Walker appeared to be retrieving something from a backpack in the car wash area — when Walker saw the investigators, he fled on foot. Investigators quickly caught Walker after he ran about 100 feet, Cooper said, then they returned to see what was inside the backpack.

Inside, investigators found around 10 ounces of marijuana, about half an ounce of powdered cocaine, $2,000 in cash and a small .22 caliber revolver, Cooper said. Walker was charged for the possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and obstruction of officers for attempting to flee.

Walker was additionally charged for the possession of drugs within 1,000 feet of public housing, Cooper said, due to the fact that Walker was selling drugs near two different housing authority neighborhoods.

The second suspect was arrested Saturday, and she was actually taken into custody by a Coweta County Sheriff’s Office deputy because of the warrants out for her arrest, Cooper said.

In early December, investigators with the Newnan Drug Task Force served a search warrant at the home of Lolita Ann Martinez, 28, on Tuxedo Avenue, Cooper said. Martinez and her boyfriend, Chaz Cook — who is also a suspect — were not at the residence, Cooper said, but investigators found a large amount of cocaine and marijuana. Investigators also found cash, a firearm, packaging materials, digital scales and enough other evidence to tie Martinez to its possession, Cooper said.

A warrant was placed on both Martinez and Cook at that time, and Martinez was identified and arrested on Saturday. Martinez was charged with the possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Investigators are still on the lookout for Cook — anyone with information on his whereabouts have been asked to contact Sgt. Mark Cooper or Investigator Jeremy Wood at the Newnan Police Department at 770-254-2355. Cook is known to live in the West Washington Street area.